News - Cranbourne Star News - 28th March 2024

By Violet Li

At

19 March meeting,

endorsed the request by Brown Property Group to rezone the company’s land at 40-46 Cyril Beechey Lane from the Farming Zone to the General Residential Zone.

The 3.902-hectare block is covered with dense vegetation regrowth, located north-west of Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

The council stated that the land was part of an established urban residential area and

could be efficiently serviced.

“The development of the land will fulfill a need for more housing stock within metropolitan Melbourne, reduce bushfire risk, and can complement the character of the area,” it stated in the officers’ report.

However, the council also pointed out several planning considerations, including the potential habitat loss of the Southern Brown Bandicoot, a species formally listed as endangered.

According to an ecology report by consultancy Ecology and Heritage Partners, the species was detected on 17 occasions during 17 surveyed nights.

It found that residential developments would “impact any bandicoot population given the high-quality nature of the habitat,

and the frequent use by the existing bandicoot population“, resulting in “fragmentation of any existing populations in the local area“.

A referral has been made to the Federal Environment Minister to decide upon a proposed action for developing housing on the land, which would necessitate the clearing of 3.143 hectares of the bandicoot habitat.

A Department of Environment spokesperson said the minister was due to decide on whether this proposed project could go ahead under national environment law on 2 April.

The property group has proposed an offset to alleviate the impact on bandicoots, which would be to “retain a 30-metre-wide vegetated biodiversity corridor located on the eastern boundary of the land as an extension to the adjoining Grandeur Court Reserve to the

north for the bandicoot habitat and to create a north-south corridor to facilitate dispersal of the species“.

Accordingly, the developer has sought to rezone parts of the land in the Grandeur Court from the General Residential Zone to the Public Conservation and Resource Zone, which Casey Council also green-lit at the latest meeting.

Southern Brown Bandicoot outreach officer Eilish Roberts, from the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, said this might be the most important population of Southern Brown Bandicoots remaining in the world.

“Southern Brown Bandicoots are not just cute critters; they are incredible ecosystem engineers.

Continued page 8

Sienna,

Crime’s on the rise

By Ethan Benedicto

Casey saw retail theft spike by 9 per cent by the end of 2023 compared to 2022, with supermarkets seeing the highest rate of incidents with an 83 per cent rise compared to the previous year.

With supermarket incident figures jumping from 187 to 342, service stations were the second highest, with a 42.7 per cent increase from 601 to 858.

The city also had a rise in young offenders, with those aged 10 to 17 seeing a 27.9 per cent increase from the previous year’s figure of 1009 pushing to 1291.

Similarly, and for the first time in the 10year stretch of records by the Crime Statistics Agency, the age group of 45 and over alleged offenders peaked at 1244 incidents.

This is a 42.5 per cent increase to the average figure of 873 from 2014 to 2022.

Houses were the most common locations for recorded offences, with an 8.6 per cent increase from 2022 at 10,328 and 9506 respectively.

The second most common location was streets, lanes and footpaths, which saw a more dramatic increase of 13.8 per cent from 2022 to 2023, jumping from 2649 to 3017.

Both Cranbourne and Narre Warren remained at the top with 3232 and 3028 recorded offences, respectively, and a 17.31 and 6.69 per cent increase compared to 2022.

Berwick and Clyde North trailed just behind, with 2527 for the former and 1630 for the latter suburb; a 12 and 12.5 per cent increase each.

Property and deception offences, such as theft and burglary were up 17.6 per cent, with a figure of 3231 compared to 2747 the year prior.

Theft from a motor vehicle saw an increase of 35.3 per cent compared to 2022, with figures at 736.9 and 544.6 per capita respectively.

This comes after a two-year dip in figures between 2020 and 2021, which saw a decrease of 18.7 per cent from 721.2 and 585.8 per capita.

Residential aggravated burglaries were also up 10 per cent, with non-residential, non-aggravated burglaries up 31 per cent.

Overall the city had an 8 per cent increase in offences recorded per capita in 2023 compared to 2022, with Mark Goldspink, Casey’s Local Area Commander and Acting Inspector remaining confident in the city’s safety.

“The overall crime rate in Casey has slightly risen over the past year, it remains at its third lowest level for the past decade.

“Casey remains a very safe place to live and work, with the overall crime 22 per cent below the state-wide crime rate,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Neil Patterson, who spoke on state-wide crime trends on 21 March said, in relation to youth crime, that what they’re seeing “is mindless and driven by the pursuit of notoriety or social media likes”.

“When cars are stolen by children their driving is particularly poor, that’s not surprising because they have very little experience on

the road,” he said.

Victoria Police have dedicated operations such as Alliance – targeting youth gangs –and Trinity – targeting youth burglars and car thieves – to counter the offending, and have a focus on Casey, Greater Dandenong and Cardinia areas.

“When interviewed, offenders are telling us they will walk up and down a street until they find a door or window that is unlocked,” Mr Patterson said.

“Young people know the technology around cars; it’s harder to steal a car than it has been.

“The only way is to steal the keys; we’re calling on everyone to lock their doors and lock their cars, this will make a big impact on those types of crime,” he said.

Police have also added that with the gears of the local community once again moving post-pandemic, crimes in public places have also risen.

Additionally, local units are proactively door-knocking on known family violence offenders and victims to identify any breaches and prevent further offending.

Facing 46 charges

An alleged hit-run driver who crashed into a parked car in Springvale while dropping burnouts is facing almost 50 charges including multiple burglaries.

Police say the 26-year-old Mulgrave man crashed on Hope Street on 31 August 2023 and fled on foot.

He allegedly made a false report to police that the vehicle was stolen at the time. Dandenong Achilles Taskforce detectives arrested the man on Lonsdale Street, Melbourne about 10.30am on Wednesday 20 March.

He was charged with nine offences relating to 31 August, including perjury, making a false report to police, failing to give information as to the driver, driving a vehicle causing loss of traction, failing to exchange his name and address after a collision, failing to report to police after a collision, and failing to render assistance after a collision.

The man allegedly made an earlier report that the vehicle was stolen on 11 August. Achilles investigators say they linked the vehicle and the man to a series of alleged commercial burglaries and thefts across south-east Melbourne in the early hours of 10 August 2023.

They occurred at shopping centres on High Street, Cranbourne and Police Road, Mulgrave, as well as a service station on Hall Road, Carrum Downs, police say. The man was charged with an additional 37 offences.

The man appeared at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 21 March. He was further remanded to reappear in the same court on 9 April.

Casey Council saw an 8 per cent rise in crime by the end of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A shopping trip quickly turned into horror for Hampton Park hero Robert Tomecki.

On the late morning of 18 November 2016, Tomecki heard screams and watched black smoke and flames billowing out of the Commonwealth Bank branch’s front doors on the opposite side of Springvale Road, Springvale.

A man had self-immolated inside the bank filled with nearly 40 customers and staff, igniting a scene of “panic, confusion and danger”, a County Court judge later noted.

Without hesitation, Tomecki ran to the rear of the building and entered the fray.

“You could hear the yelling. It was dark and smoky – I couldn’t see the hand in front of my face.

“I tried yelling out and a few got out – including the perpetrator, he just ran past me in the middle of the group.”

He and two other rescuers heard entrapped people yelling behind an internal door, which Tomecki kicked open.

They helped about 10 victims outside to safety.

Tomecki returned with a fire extinguisher. He put out the blaze before emergency services arrived.

In recognition, Tomecki, now 53, of Hampton Park, has been presented with a Commendation for Brave Conduct as part of the Australian Bravery Awards on 26 March.

The hard-working Hallam Bolts and Industrial employee and supermarket delivery driver says he still seeks out extreme thrill-seeking, such as travelling overseas and bungy-jumping.

On the fateful day in 2016, he was left with the nauseating after-effects of smoke exposure.

He says he stayed inside as long as he could for “the last person to get out” until he was overwhelmed.

“Everyone got out,” he said. “There could have been a bigger situation …”

The fire was started by then-21-year-old Nur Islam, who had doused himself with petrol and set himself alight.

Saved family from fire

Cranbourne resident Tenaia Salesulu has been acknowledged with a Commendation for Brave Conduct under this year’s Australian Bravery Decorations on 26 March.

She is commended for brave conduct for her actions rescuing a family from a house fire in Cranbourne on 12 October 2020.

At 9.30am, she was at a park when she heard a smoke alarm and saw smoke billowing from a nearby house.

She ran to the house, gained entry, and was confronted with thick smoke.

She located a baby in one bedroom, and then a toddler in another, and took both outside to safety.

She re-entered the house and located a woman in another room and took her outside.

Ms Salesulu returned to the park. Emergency services arrived shortly afterwards and extinguished the fire.

The Governor-General announced 50 Australian Bravery Decorations to recognise the courageous acts of 89 people and congratulated all the recipients.

“Confronted with danger, each chose to help someone. Their bravery is commendable, and their selflessness is inspirational,” he said.

“In a moment of peril, each of the people we are recognising today decided to come to the aid of someone else – some, someone they knew, others a total stranger.

“Often their actions were at a cost to themselves. Tragically, two recipients lost their own lives.”

The blaze quickly engulfed the bank, injuring 15 customers and staff.

Four received serious full-thickness burns to their faces, hands and other parts of their body, requiring hospitalisation and rehabilitation.

Nur, who survived with self-inflicted burns to 60 per cent of his body, was later jailed for up to 11 years.

Tomecki also remembers 2016 for his belovedWestern Bulldogs winning their first premiership in more than 50 years.

The other unexpected silver lining was news of his bravery award this month.

“The best thing is it will make my mum happy. She’s been going through a fair bit for a while.”

Robert Tomecki with his bravery medal of honour.

Picture: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC

Path maintenance concern

By Violet Li

Local recreational cyclists are troubled by the maintenance of the Thompsons Road bike path, saying its deteriorating conditions could lead to potential dangers and hazards.

Brian Clark, who cycles with his group every Saturday morning from Sandhurst to Lynbrook Railway Station to Marriott Waters Shopping Centre and back, said that the 2.5-kilometre Thompsons Road bike path from McCormicks roundabout to Westernport Highway was riddled with overgrown vegetation, hard rubbish, and general disrepair.

“That bike path is overgrown with blackberry bushes on both sides which are rapidly encroaching on the path. Gorse bushes do the same. Wild grasses and weeds have got out of control, as well as overhanging tree branches along the way. People have also dumped hard rubbish on the roadway side of the path,” he said.

“There are multiple hazards to bike riders, runners, and scooter riders in the form of potential snakes and vermin and various obstructions.

“It is both a danger and an eyesore and a complete disgrace for our Victorian community to have to endure.”

Mr Clark said once he even came down to the road to cut back everything.

“It’s obviously not being maintained,” he said.

“The condition depends on the seasons, but it gets progressively worse.

“The path is wide enough for two bikes, but you cannot ride two bikes together. You’ve got to sometimes duck or weave under branches.”

Early last year Mr Clark and his cyclist group took the problem to the local MP Sonya Kilkenny with accompanying photos and had to revisit the office twice over a couple of

months to urge a response.

“Since our first visit, the only thing that was moved was a whole bunch of hard rubbish that people have dumped. That’s all that’s happened,” he said.

“What this whole length of pathway desperately needs is mechanical slashing on both sides of the pathway followed by the spraying of poison to kill off the remaining roots of the blackberry brambles and gorse bushes.

“We understand that this resolution probably remains the responsibility of VicRoads and State Government, but since Thompsons

Road is also the border between Dandenong and Frankston Councils, it is difficult to pin down exactly who should fix the unsightly and dangerous mess.”

South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Ann-Marie Hermans took the issue to the Parliament on 6 March and called for urgent action to address the “hazardous conditions” on the bike path.

“The safety and wellbeing of cyclists and pedestrians utilising the Thompson Road bike path must be prioritised,” she said.

A Department of Transport and Planning

spokesperson said crews would be on the ground within the next week to remove vegetation along the Thompsons Road shared user path, weather depending.

The State Government and the City of Greater Dandenong are working to confirm regular ongoing maintenance arrangements for the shared-use path, according to the department.

Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny said she was delighted that residents were using the shareduse path that was constructed as part of the State Government’s Thompsons Rd upgrade project.

“User safety is a priority and I have passed on concerns to the relevant Minister,” she said.

“It is my expectation that maintenance will be carried out shortly.

“I want to thank local residents for bringing this important matter to my attention.”

Star News photographer STEWART CHAMBERS drove down the road and took the photos on 15 March.

Captain’s call: Council rejects plea to buy slice of history

By Sahar Foladi

A small piece from the history of the Doveton community may be lost unless the City of Casey intervenes, says a concerned residents group.

One of the area’s few heritage-listed properties, at 24 Doveton Avenue in Eumemmerring, is up for sale for a maximum $850,000.

The spacious 960m vintage Captain Doveton house is named after Captain John and Margaret Doveton who bought the house in 1894, lived almost a decade before the house was sold on August 1903.

Despite their short stay in the town, in 1954 the area was named after Captain John Doveton.

The Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association (DETA) has written to the council to acquire the property to save it from private hands and maintain the house as part of the area’s history.

“The property holds immense significance for our community, embodying our history and story of our suburb’s creation,” chairperson Stefan Koomen said in his letter.

The group has expressed concern that the

property may fall into disrepair if it remains in private hands.

The group remain hopeful of the outcome of their letter as they wait anxiously for a response however City of Casey manager planning and building Tania Asper said that the council has no intention to acquire the property.

“Doveton Height is a rare example of a surviving Victorian house in this urbanised and industrialised area, which demonstrates

an early period of settlement and development — it is one of just two early houses remaining in Doveton Avenue.

“The property located at 24 Doveton Avenue in Eumemmerring (Doveton Height) is currently protected by a Heritage Overlay in the Casey Planning Scheme. Council has no plan to acquire the property.

“The current Casey Planning Scheme includes Clause 15.03 Heritage, Clause 21.07 Built Environment and Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay.

“These controls recognise the heritage significance of the property, ensures that the building cannot be demolished without permission and discourages any inappropriate demolition and/or development to occur on the land.”

However, the DETA group doesn’t see any reason why the council have decided against the purchase.

“The house is heritage listed by the council, so they have recognised it but it’s just a matter of whether the council can own and gain control over it.

“I can’t see why they couldn’t do it,” Mr Koomen said.

“They have lots of other properties, like in Berwick, that are heritage sites.”

According to him, residents around Doveton share the same view.

If the council aquires the house, it could use it for an array of purposes as long as the heritage building is “retained and maintained”, DETA argues.

“DETA understands that the purchase of such a property entails financial considerations,” Mr Koomen says.

“However, we believe that the benefits far outweigh the costs. The property could be rented out for residential, business or community use in the short term, serving as both an investment while retained for the community.”

Captain Doveton died at the age of 61 on 7 April 1904 of throat and liver cancer. At that time he lived at his Oakleigh house and didn’t have any children.

He was buried at the Oakleigh Cemetery.

Meanwhile his wife, who was also his first cousin, moved to Malvern East and Mordialloc. She passed away on December 1941 at an approximate age of 97 years and was buried at St Kilda Cemetery.

Stefan Koomen outside the heritage-listed Captain Doveton house, also known as Doveton Height. 396485

Picture: GARY SISSONS

Overhanging branches on the Thompsons Rd bike path from McCormicks Rd to Westernport Highway. 395066 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Weeds on the Thompsons Rd bike path from McCormicks Rd to Westernport Highway. 395066

Blackberry on the Thompsons Rd bike path from McCormicks Rd. 395066

Thompsons Rd bike path from McCormicks Rd to Westernport Highway. 395066

Dumped bike on the Thompsons Rd bike path from McCormicks Rd to Westernport Highway. 395066

Casey

be invited to par-

the forthcoming co-design activity. Peninsula Community Legal Centre (PCLC) and Community Information and Support Cranbourne (CISC) have been selected as partner community service organisations to be based at the proposed future hub.

The proposed hub, currently in the planning stage and to be located at 1-3 Lyall Street in Cranbourne, will be a purpose-built facility, consolidating and integrating council and community services.

City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff PSM said that the council completed an in-depth selection process to determine the best fit for the proposed hub.

“Council is in the very early stages of considering the development opportunities of an exciting new community hub in Cranbourne. Our vision for this facility is a purpose-built location for our community to easily access important services,” Ms Duff said.

“We are prioritising specific service providers so that this facility offers the best possible outcomes for the Cranbourne community and fills some of the current gaps in local services.”

It is also proposed that the new hub would be home to the council’s Cranbourne Customer Service Centre, the Cranbourne Youth Information, and the Cranbourne Library in a contemporary and integrated space.

“We want to make interacting with the council as easy as possible and provide an opportunity for council to house a range of complementary services together in a building designed to cater for the needs of our local community,” Ms Duff said.

Services in the southern part of Casey are currently located across a range of sites, including the administration building at the Casey Complex which is now at the end of its

operational life and will be closed in coming years.

This project is part of the Cranbourne Major Activity Centre Structure Plan 2020 and the council’s broader plans to revitalise Cranbourne’s town centre and to develop the area as a key regional hub that provides a diversity of jobs, entertainment, transport, services, and spaces that meet the needs of residents and the wider community.

It was initially presented to the council in April 2023 and the total cost is currently esti-

mated at $40.3 million.

Adoption of the Cranbourne Hub into the capital works program is proposed to be sought through council endorsement in early 2025, after co-design and engagement with the broader community.

The project is proposed for inclusion in the 25 to 26, 26 to 27, and 27 to 28 annual budgets to support a 2028 facility opening.

PCLC chief executive Jackie Galloway said the centre was delighted to be selected as a community partner for the proposed future hub.

“The Legal Centre has a long and proud history of delivering free legal services to the Cranbourne community,” she said.

“With such a high demand for our legal services, it is vital that the community has access to local, integrated, and timely legal services.

“We look forward to working with the City of Casey and our colleagues at Cranbourne Information and Support in the design of the community hub.”

Cranbourne streetscape.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

PCLC chief executive Jackie Galloway said the centre was delighted to be selected as a community partner for the proposed future hub.

Simply outstanding

Winners of the 2024 Casey Community Awards were announced at a gala celebration event at Bunjil Place on Friday 22 March.

The annual awards are a recognition program that celebrates the outstanding individuals and groups who go above and beyond in their contribution to the community.

CFA member Shane Keen was named Casey Citizen of the Year, Gunaikurnai/Yorta Yorta Elder Aunty Lucy Boothey the Casey Senior of the Year, and Maya Pinn the Casey Young Citizen of the Year.

Cancer Support Angels chief executive officer Jodie Hollis was named Casey Woman of the Year, Berwick and District Woodworkers Club member John McMahon won the Lindsay King Art Award, and Fiona Spargo was named the Environment and Sustainability Champion.

Casey Rainbow Community advocate Ray Adcock won the Casey Diversity and Inclusion Award and Wild Days Wildlife Shelter was named Casey Community Group of the Year.

City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff PSM congratulated all the nominees for the well-deserved recognition.

“It was fantastic to come together and celebrate the many people who give their time, passion, and energy to help build a better community,” she said.

“I’d like to congratulate the 2024 winners and all the nominees for these prestigious awards. Thank you for the contribution you all make to our community.”

Casey Citizen of the Year – Shane Keen Shane has been a volunteer with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) since 1977. He was at Hampton Park Fire Brigade for 30 years, including 10 years as captain. Since then, he has served with the Narre Warren North Fire Brigade, where he has been Captain for the past three years. Shane is also the Casey Group Officer, who is responsible for facilitating information sharing and emergency response capability development between the 13 brigades within the City of Casey. Shane is a representative of the City of Casey Municipal Fire Management Working Group and the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee.

Casey Young Citizen of the Year – Maya Pinn Maya is a business owner, a university student, and a single carer/mum to a six-year-old child, who is severely disabled, and a neurotypical three-year-old. Maya has advocated for better policy throughout her paid and volunteer role at Syndromes without a Name (SWAN) and Association for Children with a Disability, as well as through the Dandenong Valley SDS school council. Maya has hosted numerous events as a volunteer peer support facilitator for parents and carers of children with undiagnosed or rare genetic conditions. She is also on the community advisory group at SWAN

and Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance and contributed to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) review for zero to eightyear-olds.

Casey Senior of the Year – Lucille Boothey (Aunty Lucy)

Proud Gunaikurnai/Yorta Yorta Elder Aunty Lucy is a pillar in the Aboriginal community, committed to sharing the invaluable gifts of story, culture, and care for the Country. Aunty Lucy tirelessly volunteers and connects to community and country through various contributions including gardening at the Aboriginal Gathering Place and engaging in the co-design and facilitation of cultural elements in playgroups. Lovingly known as ‘Nan’, a term only used with the utmost respect and regard in many cultures, these contributions to the Casey community have had a profound and lasting impact.

Casey Woman of the Year – Jodie Hollis

Jodie’s journey began in 2017 with her volunteer work for the Narre-Cranbourne Relay for Life in the City of Casey. In recognition of her outstanding commitment to the community, she received the Holt Australia Day Award in 2020. In December 2019, Jodie founded her own charity, Cancer Support Angels to assist cancer patients and their families during challenging times. As Cancer Support Angels enters its fourth year, it now boasts more than 70 dedicated volunteers nationwide and has touched the lives of more than 5,000 patients.

Casey Community Group of the Year – Wild Days Wildlife Shelter

For more than 15 years, Wild Days Wildlife Shelter has cared for sick, injured, and orphaned Australian native wildlife from Casey and surrounds. Founder and licensed wildlife carer Kay Taranto, and her wonderful team of volunteers operate 24/7, 365 days a year to fulfill their mission to rehabilitate wildlife that need help, nurture their environment, and return them to the wild. Wild Days is passionate

LENSCAPE

about sharing knowledge of biodiversity by training carers, mentoring, speaking with the community, schools, and groups, attending expos, consulting with the council, and guiding junior volunteers.

Casey Environment and Sustainability Champion Award – Fiona Spargo

Fiona began collecting recyclable items when she started working at the Botanic Gardens Retirement Village two years ago. She expanded her recycling efforts to include the residents living there, and in August last year also began collecting items from the Coral Mews RetirementVillage. Some of the items are given to local childcare centres and schools and the rest are taken away for recycling. For events such as Detox Your Home and textile recycling days, Fiona does a collection on behalf of the retirement village residents and books in time to drop items off on their behalf.

Casey Equity and Inclusion Award – Ray Adcock

Ray has made an outstanding contribution to the Casey community over the past year by facilitating numerous social events for the Casey Rainbow Community and providing a strong voice for the group. Ray partnered with the local Casey Cardinia Rotaract Club to auspice a grant for the facilitation of events in a neurodiverse inclusive space for an intersectional community.

Lindsay King Art Award – John McMahon

John is a member of the Berwick and District Woodworkers Club. As part of this club, he contributes to the significant handmade toy contribution that the club makes to local children’s charities each year. John has recently prepared a proposal for the establishment of a National Woodcraft Collection and Exhibition Centre to be located in Berwick. He has spent many hours researching the project and dedicated his own time to meeting with the Council, as well as local and federal MPs to gain support for his project.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Thumbs up

To the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal this week.

Thumbs up

Looking forward to the Bunyip Community Market this Sunday.

Thumbs up

To Matt and the team at Mitre 10 in Beaconsfield- helped me enormously with a tricky task with an item for a care facility. Thank you.

Thumbs up

To a paid day off this week!

Thumbs up

To an extra long weekend.

IN BRIEF

Man dies in collision

A man has died following a collision in Pearcedale on Thursday afternoon.

It was reported to the police that a car travelling on Tyabb-Tooradin Road collided with a truck approaching in the opposite direction around 4.50pm on 21 March.

The driver and sole occupant of the car died at the scene.

The truck driver was unharmed and stopped at the site of the collision.

Circumstances surrounding the incident have yet to be established and clarified, with an investigation currently ongoing, police said last week.

Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the collision, or those with dashcam footage or further information, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime

$500k of stolen vehicles and parts seized

Over $500,000 in stolen vehicles and parts were recovered from a semi-rural Cranbourne East home in the morning of Wednesday 20 March.

A 39-year-old man was charged by detectives from the Vehicle Crime Squad with trafficking drugs of dependence, 11 counts of handling stolen goods and possessing proceeds of crime-related offences.

With assistance from the Vehicle Examination Unit, a search warrant was executed at the home which stored 10 stolen vehicles, of which were seven HoldenV8s, aToyota Landcruiser, a Mazda BT50, and another Toyota vehicle.

There were also three stolen road bikes, a stolen dirt bike, five stolen car engines, one stolen trailer, a stolen front-end loader, a stolen forklift and a stolen quad bike, all of which were seized by police.

Police believe that the property was used for vehicle rebirthing, which Julie Macdonald, Detective Inspector from the Vehicle Crime Squad said “refers to modifying or removing identifying information from a stolen vehicle or parts to disguise it has been stolen”.

“The wider ramifications of this kind of crime can ripple through the entire community, from someone who can’t get to work or school because their car’s been stolen, to insurance premiums being raised for everyone to cover the costs of vehicle theft.”

Other items were also seized from the home, including a small quantity of cash and a traffickable amount of suspected methylamphetamine.

All of the seized vehicles were displaying cloned number plates and had their vehicle identifiers, the VIN and engine numbers, either removed, altered or defaced.

“Rebirthed vehicles can be a major safety threat to unwitting buyers, often the process is not carried out by a qualified mechanic, meaning that the car could have serious issues which can result in an accident,” Inspector Macdonald said.

The suspect was bailed to appear at the Magistrate’s Court on 27 March with further investigation still ongoing.

Two charged following Hampton Park shooting

Police charged two people on 20 March as part of their investigation into a non-fatal shooting in Hampton Park this month.

A 25-year-old Cranbourne East man and a 21-year-old Clyde North woman were arrested with assistance from the Special Operations Group shortly after 11am on Wednesday 20 March in Mount Waverley.

During the arrest, investigators located and seized a firearm.

The pair were interviewed and subsequently charged with attempted aggravated carjacking with a firearm, armed robbery with a firearm and intentionally causing injury.

The man was also charged with using a firearm contrary to the firearms prohibition order.

They were remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 21 March.

The arrests follow an incident about 4am on Saturday 16 March where a man and a woman were approached while sitting in a vehicle parked in a car park on Hallam Road in Hampton Park.

It will be alleged that an altercation took place after demands were made for money.

A firearm was then discharged, striking a 39-year-old woman in the arm.

She later presented at the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The 47-year-old man who was with her in the vehicle was not physically injured.

Jo from Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House and Community Centre gets into the spirit of the Easter egg hunt in Berwick. 397153 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

John McMahon, Lucille Boothey (Aunty Lucy), Fiona Spargo, Shane Keen, City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM, Maya Pinn, Jodie Hollis and Kay Taranto and Stefanie Cruscz from Wild Days Wildlife Shelter.

Picture: SUPPLIED

You can keep fighting fatigue, until you can’t.

Working 17 continuous hours causes impairment equivalent to .05 blood alcohol concentration level.

Working long, multiple days in a row by yourself can be part of the job but consider the cost to you and your family.

Check in with yourself and others around you.

Know the signs of fatigue, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/farmfatigue

It’s never you, until it is.

‘A lack of action’

By Violet Li

The Green Wedges Coalition is concerned the State Government’s new Green Wedge protection plan will not address the longstanding urban encroachment into green space.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny released the Green Wedge and Agricultural Land Action Plan 2024 on Monday 18 March that contains 20 actions to be implemented in the next three years.

It follows a 2020 consultation paper outlining 41 planning reform options designed to protect agricultural land and guide decisionmaking in green wedges.

“The peri-urban area within 100km of central Melbourne is home to some of Victoria’s most fertile soil and productive agricultural land. It punches above its weight – it produces enough food to meet 41 per cent of Metropolitan Melbourne’s food needs, including 80 per cent of its vegetables,” Ms Kilkenny said.

“Our precious GreenWedges and peri-urban areas are facing increasing pressure from overdevelopment.

“They are at risk of irreversible change –once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.”

The new actions focus on preserving Green Wedges and agricultural land on Melbourne’s outskirts and tightening planning controls over developments.

In setting tight controls, the new action plan will prohibit new data centres in the Green Wedge Zone, Green Wedge A Zone, and the Rural Conservation Zone and subdivision of small lots below the minimum lot size in some zones within 100km of Melbourne.

New conditions will be inserted for exhibition centres, group accommodation, and hotels.

A new permit trigger will be introduced for clean fill.

Casey is home to Green Wedges in areas around Westernport, Cranbourne South, Narre Warren North, and Harkaway.

The Green Wedges Coalition coordinator Rosemary West said the new action plan had good intentions and correctly identified issues needing planning reform, including resisting land speculation and pressure to convert farmland to urban uses, retaining rural land for nonurban uses, and improving protection for agriculture and significant natural assets.

However, she pointed out the lack of real actions in the plan to effectively achieve these

reforms.

“It has no actions to limit the spread of urban uses like schools, places of worship, or secondary dwellings in the GreenWedges,” she said.

“The Green Wedges will still be threatened by death from a thousand cuts. These urban uses rightly belong inside the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) where the students and parishioners live.

“We are disappointed that the very moderate proposals in the 2020 options paper to require schools and places of worship to be located adjacent to the UGB, on a main road with access to public transport and not in a Bushfire Management Overlay, has been dropped.”

Prior to the Victoria Planning Provisions by Amendment VC103 in 2013, places of worship, and primary and secondary schools were prohibited uses in GreenWedge Zones.

The 2013 amendment allows discretionary uses if they are considered appropriate.

Peninsula Green Wedge Protection Group, which formed in 2022 to oppose a proposed large temple development in rural Pearcedale in Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge in a VCAT hearing, stood with the Green Wedges Coalition, stating that place of worship and other large urban developments should get

Place of worship proposed

By Violet Li

Shri Ram Janaki Charitable Trust Melbourne has proposed to change the use of its land in Cranbourne South to a Hindu place of worship and meditation centre.

The land at 104 Browns Road in the Green Wedge Zone is a low-density rural residential lot that currently contains a single dwelling, a swimming pool, a shed with an existing concrete slab, and paddocks with livestock. It is accessed through Browns Road.

The Trust intends to transform the shed into a place of worship, and apart from strengthening the existing structure, no extensions of any improvement are envisaged.

Holt MP Cassandra Fernando has written to Casey Council to support the application, stating that establishing a place of worship and meditation centre by the Trust would be welcomed by the Hindu community in the electorate, and across Casey.

“Hinduism is followed by 7.1 per cent of Holt residents, making it the third-largest religion in the electorate,” she wrote.

“However, I have been informed by my office that currently there is only one Hindu place of worship to support the religious and cultural needs of the growing community.”

The operation hours will be 9am to 1pm and 5pm to 9pm from Monday to Sunday. A maximum of 50 attendants will be expected on the weekend night hours.

The facility will host six to eight Hindu cultural events annually. It will also run language classes on a fortnightly basis. One of the rooms in the facility will be converted into a meditation centre.

The proposal provides 15 standard car

parking spaces and two disabled car parking spaces based on an average car occupancy of 3.33 persons.

The car park will be accessed from Kelly Road and the existing access for the residence on Browns Road will be retained.

The peak traffic hours are projected to be between 5pm and 9pm from Friday to Sunday, with 64 trips per hour.

The applicant believes the proposed place of worship will not impact traffic along Browns Road, Kelly Road, and their associated intersections.

No vegetation will be removed on site.

Six existing trees at the site have been assessed and two of them were identified with low retention values, not recommended to be incorporated into any design.

The removal of trees on site will be dependent on permit applications approved by responsible authorities.

The planning application will be advertised until 2 April.

specifically mentioned or refused in the new action plan.

“But we are happy that the State Government has chosen to further strengthen the Green Wedge and agricultural land protections with this new policy,” Pearcedale resident Craig Gobbi said on behalf of the group.

“We support actions in the plan to maintain the important non-urban purpose of the Green Wedges and avoid use and development that would adversely affect their future productive use or environmental significance.We also welcome the action to support preferred land uses and encourage uses that contribute to the nonurban landscape and character.

“We need policies like these to create zone consistency across the GreenWedges.”

Ms West said the coalition feared that Green Wedge protection would still largely be left to local residents, environment and Green Wedge groups, and sometimes councils fighting unequal battles in VCAT against cashed-up developers with KCs and expensive expert witnesses.

“We hope there will be time for Minister [Sonya] Kilkenny to consider closing some of the loopholes indicated above when she amends to theVictorian Planning Provisions to implement the actions in this plan,” she said.

Habitat to houses

From page 1

“OneSouthernBrownBandicootturns over nearly four metric tons of soil in a year, which helps to circulate nutrients, aerate the soil, improve water penetration, and more. Not only that, Southern Brown Bandicoots spread important fungal spores in their droppings which help plants to absorb key nutrients,” she said. “Southern Brown Bandicoots are under constant threat from foxes and cats and are in desperate need of dense vegetation to give them a chance at survival.

“It is recommended that habitat corridors be around 80 metres wide to help them move safely throughout the suburbs.”

City of Casey’s manager growth and investment Kathryn Seirlis said the federally protected marsupial was known to occupy the area, and preservation of this species was taken seriously with conservation requirements in place. She explained that separate approval from the Federal Environment Minister was in the process of being obtained. “Endorsement of this planning scheme amendment is the first step of a statutory process to amend the Casey Planning Scheme, which if approved, will trigger the requirement for a Development Plan and planning permit to be applied for and approved to develop the land,” she said. “This could not be granted without the necessary federal approvals in place.”

Casey Council will request the Planning Minister to authorise the preparation and exhibition of the amendment. Community engagement will commence at the public exhibition of the amendment.

New paws in the hallways

Casey Grammar welcomes one particularly special new staff member for students to meet this semester, the furry Buddy.

He is a young Labradoodle whose favourite foods are carrots, strawberries, and cheese and who loves playing fetch and running around in the rain with his big brother.

His favourite toys are a dinosaur and a shark and he’ll happily spend plenty of time going for walks and watching cars go by.

Buddy is joining the school as part of the whole school wellbeing program and has been trained as a wellbeing dog through the Dogs Connect program.

He will initially attend school one or two days a week and, like the students and teachers, Buddy will have his own timetable and will spend time in the Junior and Senior classrooms.

As he grows more confident and familiar with his surroundings, Buddy will also carry out yard duty.

A team of staff is in charge of introducing the Dogs Connect program to Casey Grammar and

Buddy’s primary carer is teacher Rebecca Birch, who has been training Buddy so he is ready to make his class debut in 2024.

“Junior and Senior School students have been told about Buddy and they are very excited,” Casey Grammar principal Fiona Williams said.

“Dogs in schools have been proven to provide emotional support, to assist students and staff with building connections, and they help decrease anxiety and stress. There is also often a decrease in absenteeism when there is a dog in school.”

Approximately 40 schools acrossVictoria are accredited with Dogs Connect and have their own ‘Buddy’ in school.

Students will be given lessons on how to respectfully interact with Buddy, and only students who want to connect with the Labradoodle will do so.

“We’re pretty sure he’s going to quickly become one of the most popular new staff members of 2024!” MrsWilliam said.

Teth, Hannah, Brody, Anirudh, Sienna, Myra, and Sienna with Buddy.

Opposite 104 Browns Road in Cranbourne South. 397762

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

This Green Wedge land in Pearcedale has been earmarked for a proposed temple development.

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Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

A Southern Brown Bandicoot.

We’re building big near you and there will be transport disruptions

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re easing congestion by building better roads in Melbourne’s south east. We’re also removing dangerous and congested level crossings and building the Metro Tunnel.

What we’ve done

Finished building new lanes and upgrading four key intersections on Hall Road between Carrum Downs and Cranbourne West

Opened the new inbound Princes Freeway exit ramp and widened the existing outbound exit ramp at McGregor Road in Pakenham

Upgraded four intersections on Western Port Highway – at Thompsons, Hall, Ballarto and CranbourneFrankston roads

Upgraded eight new intersections so far as part of the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade

Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions

Cranbourne and Pakenham lines

to

Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps

Princes

Get your skates on

Sk8house is a large, fully renovated venue that offers great value, good old-fashioned fun that little kids, big kids and adults can enjoy. And even if skating isn’t for you right now, treat yourself to a delicious barista coffee while the kids tire themselves out. Then grab a snack or lunch from their fully-stocked cafe, with yummy hot and cold food that will definitely satisfy your appetite after all that skating fun.

The autumn school holidays are always so much fun at Sk8house and there is so much happening this year. Check out the most recent blog on their website for all of the event details. If you like having fun and you’re ready to make some memories with your nearest and dearest, that’s the place to go for all the info. In the meantime, we recommend marking these highlights in your calendar:

· DISNEY DISCO: 30 March, 6pm-10pm –Book now using code DISNEY24 to enjoy 25 per cent off entry.

· OPEN GOOD FRIDAY: 29 March and Saturday 30 March, regular hours.

· OPEN EASTER MONDAY: General Session from 11am-4pm – Book now using code EASTER24 to save 25 per cent on entry. Evening Skate Classes as usual.

· Extra General Sessions: 1 April to 14, 11am4pm, Monday to Friday.

· Extra Learn-2-Sk8 Classes: 1 April to 14, 10am, Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Sk8house roller skating rink in Carrum Downs.

· SENSORY SESSION: By popular demand, 5 April, 9am-12pm.

· Please note: Sk8house is closed Easter Sunday so the Sk8 crew can enjoy a well-deserved day off to eat yummy chocolate eggs

with their families.

Whether you are young or just young at heart, roller skating is not only fantastic fun but also a great form of exercise. It is one of the best total-body cardio workouts & is proven

to improve balance, motor skills, stability and coordination plus the added benefit of performance skills. Visit sk8house.com.au for session times and to book now.

FOCUS ON … EASTER HOLIDAY GUIDE Join the celebrations

Botanic RidgeVillage has undergone a $12 million expansion, with owners Sandhurst Retail and Logistics (SRL) unveiling a new precinct which includes a childcare centre and a swim school.

The new Botanic Ridge Village precinct –which adds an extra 1,770 square metres of retail space to the centre – began construction in June last year and will officially be unveiled at an Opening Party on 6 April.

Bluebird Early Education Centre and BlueFit Swimming are the newest additions to the shopping village, which already boasts a Coles and specialty stores including a pharmacy, full service medical centre and cafe amongst its retail offering.

SRL Development Manager Hayden Keir said the Botanic RidgeVillage expansion would deliver much-needed additional services and retail options to the fast-growing Casey region.

“Botanic Ridge Village is SRL’s latest neighbourhood retail precinct and because it’s a greenfield development, we’ve had the opportunity to tailor its design to suit the needs of the surrounding community,” he said.

“With so much of this area occupied by young families, existing childcare centres and sporting facilities are stretched to capacity, so it made sense to introduce these as a priority in this new precinct.”

SRL Head of Asset Management Sarah Blackmore said the upgrades to the precinct would broaden its utility for both retailers and customers.

“It’s also a good fit for our tenancy mix. The goal has always been to ensure we deliver more than just a place to shop, which is why we also built play spaces and areas for people to connect in the first stage of development,” Ms Blackmore said.

“There’s a regular calendar of events and activities at Botanic Ridge Village, which gives locals the opportunity to use the precinct as a community hub.

“We’re already planning for the next stage of development within the Botanic Ridge Village precinct, which will introduce additional retailers and usages to complement the existing tenancy mix and cater to the needs of the community.”

The family focused Opening Party will take place on Saturday 6 April from 10am – 1pm and will include a petting zoo, circus workshops, face painting and hair braiding, bubble

shows, meet and greet with Mermaid Mira and a donut giveaway by Donut Panic for the first 200 customers.

Bluebird Early Education Operations Manager, Kara Parata said the Service is licenced for 100 children each day, in six studios for ages from six weeks to five-years-old and is currently taking tours from 15 April, 2024.

“We’re very excited to be opening our new Early Education Service in Botanic Village and helping ignite the spirit of learning within our community!” Ms Parat said.

BlueFit Swimming General Manager Michele Eason is thrilled to be up and running,

with the centre now open for swimming lessons.

“We’ve been very excited about bringing the BlueFit Swimming program to Botanic Ridge. It’s such a fast-growing area for young families, and we understand how important it is for parents to ensure their kids are safe around water,” Ms Eason said.

“BlueFit Swimming aims to foster a lifelong love of swimming for each of our students, with a specific focus on water safety underpinning everything that we do.”

For more information, visit botanicridgevillage.com.au

Sat 30 March, 10am - 1pm

Hop in to enjoy our shortbread decorating workshop, the Easter Bunny will be visiting with treats, and don’t forget free Easter face painting!

Saturday 6 April, 10am - 1pm

Join us as we celebrate the official opening of BlueFit Swimming and Bluebird Early Education with a fun filled day packed with free family activities!

WhaT’s on!

• Meet Mermaid Mira

• Under the sea bubble shows

• Circus workshops

• Petting zoo

• Hair braiding

• Face painting

• Free donuts from Donut Panic!*

* First 200 costumers, while stocks last.

Wed 10 - Fri 12 April, 11am - 2pm

The kids can get creative during the second week of school holidays at our junior apprentice craft hub.

Wed - Mosaic flower designs

Thu - Mini canvas painting

Fri - Hanging planter pot decorating

Botanic Ridge Village is to open a childcare and swim school with a family event.

SRL Development Manager Hayden Keir and SRL Head of Asset Management Sarah Blackmore.

International fashion show

Along with a smorgasbord, the school celebrated with a fashion parade in a colourfully decorated quadrangle.

The day was part of Harmony Week – a national celebration of cultural diversity and inclusiveness.

Primary school marks Harmony Week with concert

22 March,

The assembly in the Cranbourne West school was opened by students with a Welcome to Country and AUSLAN teachers helping the school communities to sing and sign the national anthem as they have been learning in classes.

Students were invited to wear their traditional cultural clothing or a touch of orange.

They presented cultural performances that they had worked hard over the past few weeks to get ready for.

A spokesperson for the school said they had dances from New Zealand, Australia, and India, songs from Sri Lanka, and folktales from Fiji and India were narrated along with M?ori Haka performed by students from CranbourneWest Secondary College.

“It was a lovely afternoon, and our performers were excellent,” they said.

“It is a concert that recognises and highlights the beauty of our cultural diversity and inclusiveness at our school.”

A Cultural Infusion Concert marked Quarters Primary School’s annual celebration of Harmony Week on Friday

with students from different communities sharing their cultural songs, dances, and national dresses.

Harseerat. 394086

Pictures: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC

Cranbourne West Secondary College students. 394086

Nehmat. 394086

Cranbourne West Secondary College students. 394086

Claire (left), Helen (middle), So’outuli (right). 394086

Students and families shared bright fashions and tasty foods from around the world for an annual Harmony Day event at Southern Cross Primary School.

Aisha, 11, brings vibrant fashion to the family day. 389242 Pictures: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC

Ridwan 7, Aisha 11, Lomani 11, Destinee 11.

Hadiyaz 6, Sarab 6, Dewa 8, Adam 11, Sia 11, Amir 11, Isabelle 10, Lily 11, Ayla 10, Zahra and Somaya 4. 389242

Hadiyaz, 6, in elaborate costume for Harmony Day. 389242

Sarab, 6. 389242

Freeze bid ‘ignored’

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A South East manufacturers peak body has called for a Parliamentary inquiry as its campaign against steepling land taxes and valuations failed to move the state’s treasurer.

HoniWalker, who is chief executive of South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA), said that at a sought-after meeting with Treasurer Tim Pallas, he “basically ignored our request for a freeze (on land tax rises) for manufacturers and passed us to the Valuer General Victoria (VGV).”

The alliance were then “irate” with the response from VGV which reportedly said: “If you don’t like the valuation – then object”.

The land tax rises were introduced as part of the State Government’s ‘temporary’ Covid Debt Repayment Plan.

SEMMA, backed by an emphatic survey of manufacturers, is calling on a cap on the hikes which are “gouging” manufacturers to cover the government’s “Covid debt burden”.

A Hallam firm’s land tax bill soared more than $119,000 in the past year – tripling from $58,575 to $177,400.

It’s a move that will cost jobs and invest-

ment as well as hinder business’s ability to compete interstate and overseas, SEMMA argues.

“Our members are hurting,” Walker said.

“These increases have been felt across our entire membership base and the effects will be felt at the consumer level when we are forced to increase our prices to cover these tax hikes.

“If you thought the cost of living was high now – just wait until manufacturers and the supply chain pass on their land tax increases.

It just doesn’t pass the pub test.”

SEMMA argues that manufacturers should be exempt from land tax rises due to providing an “essential service” and putting “our sovereign capability” at risk.

Meanwhile SEMMA was hopeful that its call for a Parliamentary inquiry will be heeded.

Walker said the land valuations were a result of VGV’s contracted valuers who use a “complex calculation” with a 10 per cent statistical variation.

“Suffice to say, you need an economics degree and a degree in land valuation to work out these increases.”

The government argues that the land tax scale remains “progressive” – in that smaller property owners pay proportionately less than those with larger landholdings.

A spokesperson said the Treasurer met with SEMMA and “will continue to engage with industry”.

“We’re continuing to invest in Victoria’s manufacturing industry to help local businesses innovate and expand as they are key to growing our economy and supporting local jobs.”

Cash finally splashed on Doveton Pool

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Casey Council’s chief administrator has challenged local MPs to “put your money where your mouth is” to complete the long-awaited Doveton Pool in the Park upgrade.

Despite no state or federal funding, the council has gone it alone and announced $7.91 million for Stage 1 works to rebuild the outdoor 50-metre pool.

The parkland and splash pad will be accessible all year, and the toddler’s pools, water slide and Gambetta Room will also be removed.

In 2022, the council stated that the $21 million project was contingent on 50 per cent state and federal funding.

The project will now be staggered across three stages, with stage 1 funded by the council across 2024-’25 and 2025-’26.

Its total cost has been estimated down to $14.7 million, contingent on state and federal funding.

Chair of administrators Noelene Duff told a council meeting on 19 March that it was time for state and federal governments to get behind the project.

“We remind those federal and state members that here is an opportunity to support this community.

“We know there has been a lot of interest. I think it’s ‘put your money where your mouth is’ time.

“We’ve done that here and seek the support of state and federal governments to finalise this into the future.”

Local MPs had backed a fierce public campaign to ‘Save Doveton Pool’ that led Casey to abandon its 2021 plans to replace the pool with parkland.

At the 2022 election, Bruce federal Labor MP Julian Hill pledged that he was “very confident” that the pool upgrade would receive federal funding.

“Progress in saving the pool is incredibly welcome,” he said in reaction to the council’s committed funding.

“I’ve been proud to stand with the community in opposing council’s efforts to close the pool. People power worked!”

Mr Hill urged the council to submit a “high quality application” to an upcoming federal grants program.

“Whilethisisultimatelyalocalproject,funding for a metropolitan sporting and community infrastructure grants program was allocated in the Federal Budget and program arrangements are currently being finalised.

“Of course our Doveton Pool in the Park project will have to compete against all other potential projects nationally as the era of Scott Morrison style rorts where Governments just hand out money to individual projects is over.

“But we’ll give it a red hot go as soon as applications open.”

A spokesperson for Dandenong state Labor MP GabrielleWilliams said:“Any state contribution will be subject to state budget rounds, and Gabrielle has been actively discussing this with council.

“Gabrielle will continue working with council over the coming years in what we understand may be a multi-stage proposal.”

Doveton-Eumemmerring Township Association chair Sean Balfour said the project was now “finally coming to fruition” – with the group hoping to learn further details on the design.

“We don’t need a ‘Mercedes’ that no one

wants to use. We just want a ‘Ford’ that everyone wants to use.”

Construction of the project’s first stage will be timed during the pool’s off-season.

The rebuilt pool may include environmentally sustainable design features, such as energy capture and recovery, more efficient electric services, and water use and capture systems.

Future stages will be subject to funding from state and federal governments as well as community feedback, according to a council report.

Stage 2 could include a beach sand pit, plaza, canopy tree planting, upgraded splash pad, playground, outdoor fitness equipment, barbecue, toilets.

Stage 3 will upgrade the pool building.

The latter stages’ combined estimated cost is $6.84 million.

For the past two summers, the outdoor pools has opened on days 25 degrees Celsius and hotter – a reduction from the previous 30-degree temperature trigger.

However, attendances were down. In 43 days of operation in 23-’24, there were 5836 visitations – thought to be due to the lack of extreme heat days.

The Doveton Pool was developed in 1968 after a long campaign of community fundraising in response to drownings in Eumemmerring Creek. Ms Duff said the pool was an “excellent example of the challenges with respect to infrastructure maintenance and ongoing development that the city faces”.

“It is a very sad facility currently, left in demise for a long time.

“Sothecommunityengagement process has been a significant part of the decision making ... advocating to us as a council for the facility to remain accessible to the community.”

Woodman claim dismissed

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Developer John Woodman’s claim that his reputation was unreasonably damaged by IBAC has been dismissed by the Victorian Supreme Court.

Woodman had claimed for damages against the State Government and IBAC over being publicly examined for six days in late 2019 during the IBAC Operation Sandon inquiry.

IBAC had probed alleged corruption involving Casey councillors and property developers.

In the Supreme Court, Woodman alleged that IBAC knew or ought to have known that holding his examination in public would unreasonably damage his reputation, safety and wellbeing.

He argued the examination and media reporting of it caused economic and reputational harm.

In her summary dismissal of the claim, Justice Jacinta Forbes said it had “no real prospect of success”.

She ordered Woodman to pay IBAC and the government’s legal costs.

“The chance of harm resulting from an examination in public (is) not only foreseeable, it is in some circumstances likely or even inevitable given IBAC’s function to identify, investigate and expose corrupt conduct,” Forbes noted.

Forbes noted that Woodman had legal representation and other judicial avenues available to “remedy any deficiency” in the examination process.

“Nor could it be said that IBAC assumes some responsibility to act in the interest of witnesses or perform some task for their benefit.”

Woodman earlier abandoned a ‘public law claim’ that IBAC’s decision to conduct his interrogation in public lacked procedural fairness.

Under the IBAC Act, the anti-corruption commission will ordinarily hold private examinations of witnesses.

It can only hold a public examination if there’s exceptional circumstances, it’s in the public interest and not causing “unreasonable damage to a person’s reputation, safety or wellbeing”.

Last year, Woodman had initially lost a Supreme Court injunction bid to halt IBAC’s report being transmitted to Parliament.

He’d also previously taken successful Supreme Court action to compel IBAC to provide additional documents for him to comment on its draft Sandon report.

SEMMA chief executive Honi Walker has stepped up the campaign against land tax hikes on manufacturers.

Reception impacting many

By Ethan Benedicto

on reception issues.

While there was a barrage of complaints and concerns, the most common factor that was more often mentioned than not was calling triple-zero.

“The people, if you look at all these surveys - with the people I’ve spoken to - they can’t call triple-zero and that’s a basic necessity for any person living in this country,” Ms Fernando said.

A total of 10,000 surveys were sent out by the office, and to receive half of them back was nothing short of astounding according to Ms Fernando. While the survey was recent, planning for tackling the reception issues in her electorate and surrounds had been brewing since April 2022.

What began with door-knocking and calling constituents, soon developed further during the pre-polling season when she realised it was a much bigger topic and issue.

“I said to myself and to those people, if I come into government, or as a Member for Holt, that was something that was going to be a main focus for me, that these people get the coverage they need,” she said.

The Connecting Victoria campaign and the $56 million Victorian Mobile Project will see more than 230 places in the state fitted with better mobile infrastructure, to deliver more than 1400 projects by 2026.

With this, Ms Fernando said that “people who are planning or are planners that had these estates planned out, should have had the towers as something they considered”.

“When the pandemic hit in 2020, a lot of people were struggling to work, especially because they didn’t have the connectivity.

“This should have been considered by these planners before those houses were built.

“I’m glad it’s (Connecting Victoria) coming in, the towers are coming which is great,” she said.

Now that the surveys have finished, the next phase involved meeting with telco companies, namely Optus, Telstra, Vodafone and TPG.

“I want to work with the telcos and the council to make sure that these people get one of the most essential items of their life.

“I’ve spoken to Optus twice, a Zoom meeting and I met with them in parliament where I showed them the surveys.

“Showing them that was very important because this is not my word, it’s the people’s, the ones who live there,” she said.

When she spoke with Optus, Ms Fernando said that although they are in the planning phase, Optus had plans for ten sites in the sur-

rounding areas.

She also spoke with City of Casey’s CEO Glenn Patterson where she emphasised to him that the surveys show “a community need for proper mobile coverage”.

Likewise, she also called for other electorates whose citizens are experiencing reception issues to take action similar to hers, or anything that addresses the issue.

“I’ve faced the issue myself and I think just experiencing it is very important to know these people’s struggles that they have to go through.

“See, someone said here ‘we feel unsafe living here, we have either lost connection and/ or can’t even call triple-zero for emergencies’.

“I had one lady tell me that she was feeling so sick, she couldn’t call emergency services that her husband had to drive her to the hospital,” Ms Fernando said.

At a recent visit to parliament, Ms Fernando got in touch with Greenway MP and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland, where the latter party acknowledged the issue.

“She said to me that she’s aware of it and that she’s going to take it as one of her priority issues because she knows how tough it is,” Ms Fernando said.

She emphasised that in the 21st century, having adequate mobile coverage can almost be as important as having water when it comes

to accessing services and maintaining contact, especially in emergencies.

“I think the pandemic changed everyone’s lives in that sense, there’s a lot of young families out there and a lot of them work from home three to four days a week.

“These little things can change an entire aspect of your life, in this day and age mobile coverage is important in any household.

“Not just that however, but for schools, businesses, childcare centres - these places are your necessities,” she said.

The meeting with Telstra is set to take place on Tuesday 26 March, with Ms Fernando and her office confident in their progress.

‘Shameful...difficult to comprehend’: Jailed for hit-run

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

A hit-run driver with a “horrific” record who killed a traffic controller and seriously injured another at a road works site in Carrum Downs has been jailed for more than a decade.

Jason Mark Ruscoe, 31, pleaded guilty at the Victorian County Court to culpable driving causing death, causing serious injury, disqualified driving and two counts of failing to assist after a car accident.

It was a “grave example” of culpable driving – “protracted, irresponsible and appalling”, sentencing judge Robyn Harper said on 14 March.

“With a driving record as horrific as yours, a tragedy of this magnitude was only a matter of time.

“Your leaving the scene after seeing (the victim) lying lifeless on the road was cowardly and callous and bespeaks a breathtaking disregard for human life.

“It was shameful conduct that is difficult to comprehend.”

Only out of jail 10 days earlier, Ruscoe was reported driving erratically and dangerously shortly before the crash on Hall Road about

7.15am on 9 November 2021.

This included crashing into the side of a parked ute and straying onto the wrong side of the road in the path of an oncoming vehicle.

It should have given Ruscoe “ample warning that a serious collision was likely”, the court heard.

Despite several sets of road-works signs including ‘40 ahead’, Ruscoe sped towards the traffic controllers in the closed righthand lane at 97-105 km/h in his red Commodore.

Even after hitting the brakes, he was estimated to be travelling at least 75 km/h on impact.

Ruscoe fatally struck Timmy Rakei, crushing him between the back of his work ute and the Commodore and propelling him forward onto the road.

Shaun Kilmartin, who was outside on the ute’s passenger side, was also struck and suffered a broken leg. The workers’ ute was projected 17 metres into a median strip tree.

For several minutes, Ruscoe stayed in his car, talking on his phone.When he got out, he looked briefly behind him at the crash scene

including Rakei lying on the road.

Instead of helping, Ruscoe – who was a disqualified driver and on a community corrections order - walked away.

He burnt his clothing in Baxter Park to “distance himself” from his deadly act.

“Your flight from the scene further impeded police from taking blood samples from you,” Judge Harper said.

She noted that“Timmy Rakei was clearly a much-loved man whose death has impacted many people”. An innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time, she said.

Rakei’s partner told the court how their daughter still sends Rakei text messages“asking if he’s OK and if he misses her and tells him that she misses him”.

“I just cry reading the messages, especially because I know she’s waiting for that message to appear as ‘seen’ and we know that will never happen.”

An employer spoke of the “hole in the hearts of so many”.

The injured Kilmartin told of seeing his colleague dead on the road while fearing that he would also die and be unable to see his children again.

Judge Harper noted Ruscoe’s guilty plea but found “absolutely nothing” in the way of remorse.

“You proffer no explanation for your offending, no explanation of how or why it happened and there is no evidence of any insight into your conduct.”

As an adult, Ruscoe had smoked and injected meth daily. And used heroin to “come down”.

In the past, he’d stated his offending was due to substance use but gave no such explanation in this case.

Ruscoe had been imprisoned for all but 52 weeks of the past 11 years. When out, he’d lived a “transient lifestyle” and abused drugs.

He was facing his 11th unlicensed driving charge, with priors for dangerous driving, drug and dishonesty offences.

With “poor” rehabilitation prospects, Ruscoe was told “hopefully the consequences of this matter will resonate with you”.

Ruscoe was jailed for up to 16 years and three months, while eligible for parole in 10-and-a-half years.

His term includes 644 days in pre-sentence detention.

A stack of over 3000 physical surveys made their home in Holt MP Cassandra Fernando’s office with 2000 more via email after she inquired local citizens

Ms Fernando in a meeting with Optus representatives on the reception issues in the southeast.

Cassandra Fernando handing out pamphlets that read,‘tell me more about your mobile coverage’.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Holt MP Cassandra Fernando holding the stack of roughly 3000 surveys from local constituents.

‘Unjust’ two years of tax

By Ethan Benedicto

Moving to Clyde North and building a home had been a big goal for the Fernando family after selling their old house in 2014.

However, while they achieved that milestone, the family had been issued land tax worth two years on their primary place of residence.

“Never in my mind, had I thought about contacting the State Revenue Office or that they were going to contact me,” Sameera Fernando, husband and father of three, said.

“Because it’s a principal place of residence (PPR), I know I don’t have to pay any land tax, there was never an intention of letting the SRO know that we lived in our home or anything.”

In the Legislative Assembly on Thursday 7 March, Berwick MP Brad Battin addressed the Treasurer on this issue and detailed that the Fernando family’s certificate of occupancy was issued on 19 March 2019, and then soon after the family moved into their home.

According to the SRO website, principal places of residence are exempt from land tax and they are made known of this with the homeowner providing the SRO with a notice of acquisition of an interest in land, or NOA.

According to Hansard, Mr Battin also added the land tax was issued since there was no person occupying the land for two years.

“I got a notice that said I owed some money, so I called the SRO and told them about the situation,” Mr Fernando said.

“They asked me all the specific details, and then when the agent finished doing her calculations on her end, she said that they could exempt us from this year and next, but for the first two years, we needed to pay.

“I was like, ‘Why is that?’ And she said that the rule was that within 12 months we needed to build, and if we were not building we needed to contact them and let them know that it is an owner-occupied property - but we didn’t know this,” Mr Fernando said.

A vacant land tax is a chargeable fee from the SRO, but only to property that is vacant for more than six months in inner and middle Melbourne, and still does not apply to one’s PPR.

It was on 10 December 2016 when the Fernando family signed a contract for land in Clyde North, the land was settled in 2018, and before the family could sign a building contract with Ranshe Homes, Mr Randolf de Silva, then-director of the company passed away.

After choosing Smarthomes as their next builder, construction began in February 2019 with the family moving in soon after.

Mr Battin, who is currently handling the situation said that “the Fernandos have complied with all the details they were provided, the government is inferring that Mr and Mrs Fernando failed to read a section of the website about applying for an exemption”.

“This request is just a way for the government not to return the money, for now, the next step is we will await the minister’s response to

Log hollows join upgrade

By Emma Xerri

Major Road ProjectsVictoria (MRPV) is hoping to create more shelter for local wildlife across their recently completed Hall Road Upgrade Project Area through the installation of several carved log hollows.

By staying drier and better insulated, and providing refuge for wildlife in cold and hot weather, these suspended tree log hollows are an improvement on traditional nest boxes, and will provide more nesting options for local wildlife species. The hollows have been placed in areas lacking natural hollows in existing trees, with seven installed along

Taylors Road, and another two installed west of the McCormicks Road intersection.

Coming in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different species of birds and possums, the hollows join the fauna habitat logs previously installed around the bases of local trees, which seek to improve the habitats of ground fauna including mammals and reptiles.

While MRPV urges that every effort is made to preserve as many trees as possible during their works, initiatives like the log hollows allow for the timber to be repurposed as part of MRPV’s commitment under their Timber Reuse Program.

the other questions we have put in,” he said.

After the Fernando family attended Parliament on 20 March with Brad Battin MP, Mr Fernando recalled the Treasurer promptly telling them that they needed to pay the land tax, and that “there wasn’t an answer or anything”.

“I just want to know, what is this rile, and who should have been the one to have told us?

“I mean before buying the house there was no information and no one told us that we had to do this, so why should I pay?

“I didn’t sell it, and I can’t use the vacant lot as an investment property; I just didn’t understand, but that was the explanation that was given to me by the SRO agent,” he said.

The family never owned an investment property and had been renting after selling their original home while their current

residency was being built.

“If it was my investment property by all means, I would happily pay the tax, that’s the rule and my accountant would have advised me on that, I would have gotten a bill and I would have paid it.

“But I lost money on this one because I had to pay for its mortgage and at the same time my family was renting, so why on Earth should I pay more tax?” Mr Fernando said.

The land tax was also issued on the same month their newest child was born, putting unprecedented stress on the family.

Currently, both the Fernando Family and Brad Battin MP are waiting for further updates, with hopes of further details and an amendment to the land tax.

The Fernando family in front of their home in Clyde North, with Sameera Fernando on the left with their newborn and Shamini Fernando on the right with their daughters. Picture: ETHAN BENEDICTO

THE LOWDOWN

Tell us about yourself and your job in Connected Libraries!

I’m a customer experience officer here at Bunjil Place Library.

What do you love the most about working for your job?

Recommending great books to our patrons!

What was your most memorable moment during your current role in your job?

Being named as a character in The Other Bridget!

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

A cat - as long as it lives in a home like ours where she gets absolutely spoiled.

What were you like as a kid?

Only child so was a bookworm.

What event, past or present, would you like to witness?

Can’t think of one.

Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?

Patrick Swayze, Carole King, Barbra Stresand, Jane Green, Kristin Hannah, and my husband.

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Friendly, outgoing, hardworking.

What would you do on your perfect day off?

Read.

Where is your happy place?

Home with hubby.

If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook?

A cake.

Where is your dream holiday destination?

Anywhere where I can read and relax.

Connected Libraries customer experience officer Janine Kimberley. 393610 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

THREE … autumn activities

1 Visit a winery

It is one of the best times of the year to visit a winery in Victoria. Savour the newly harvested fruit and learn about the winemaking process.

2 Attend an autumn festival

There are plenty of stunning autumn festivals to explore around Victoria: the annual Grampians Grape Escape, Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, and Pyrenees Unearthed Wine and Food Festival.

3 Host a potluck

It’s the perfect time to bring the family and friends together for a potluck. Dine with the brisk breeze and the smell of crisp leaves. Try different homemade recipes. Enjoy the cosy atmosphere.

Celebrating women, culture

By Ethan Benedicto

Large-scale woven sculptural installations, moving image works and striking paintings will don the Bunjil Place Gallery as the collection called Kungka Kunpu, or Strong Women, lands on Tuesday 2 April until Sunday 21 July 2024.

In partnership with the Art Gallery of South Australia’sTarnanthi program, Bunjil Place will feature major contemporary works by celebrated women artists from the A?angu PitjantjatjaraYankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

AGSA director Rhana Devenport ONZM said, “Kungka Kunpu (Strong Women) reflects the adaptive genius, energy and dynamism of Anangu culture”.

The collection tells the inspiring tale of women supporting one another through generations, expressed and interpreted through a multitude of art pieces.

MsDevenportsaiditisa“nationalshowcase for the artistic excellence, creative diversity, innovation and cultural depth of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art”.

“It recognises the APY art movement as a vital source of contemporary art production in Australia today.

“This exceptional travelling exhibition gives audiences outside of South Australia a rare opportunity to experience AGSA’s far-reaching and impactfulTarnanthi program,” Ms Devenport said.

Kungka Kunpu features major contemporary works by more than 60 Anangu women artists that centre on caring for Country, mapping significant sites and life-sustaining practices of the desert while sharing narratives of family obligations and relationships.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard AC voiced her support for the exhibition, saying that “Strong Women, the theme of Kungka Kunpu, is a message of empowerment with a

relevance that stretches far beyond A?angu PitjantjatjaraYankunytjatjara [APY] Lands”.

Ms Gillard, now the current chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London at ANU also added that

“it impacts women in all parts of Australia and all corners of the world”.

“This touring exhibition represents a singular opportunity for the views and voices of Aboriginal women, sharing traditional wisdom

about the importance of female strength, to be seen and heard around our nation.”

Kungka Kunpu includes works that have been crafted from diverse materials including Tjanpi Desert Weaver’s sculptural installations made from tjanpi (grasses) and other objects.

This works ties together local knowledge and cultural meaning, serving as an interpretation of Tjanpi Desert Weaver’s collective practice and the important role of Tjanpi for Anangu artists.

Artist Mrs Kaika Burton said “we have very strong feelings towards our grasses, we love them”.

“They have sustained our lives forever, so when people ask us about our tjanpi and we say they have Tjukurpa, we really mean it,” she said.

New technology in the form of moving images helped capture the vision of young Anangu artists, with the exhibition featuring a cross-generational film of the same name, Kungka Kunpu that first premiered at Tarnanthi in 2019.

Combining live action and animation, artist Kaylene Whiskey explained that “we want our film project to show a strong, positive message about life in a remove Indigenous community”.

“Us young women here in Indulkana love to dance and have fun and make each other laugh, we’re proud to live on our land and hold on to our culture and language,” she said.

Among the exhibiting artists in Kungka Kunpu (Strong Women) are Angkuna Baker, Kunmanara (Wawiriya) Burton, Nyunmiti Burton and Mrs Kaika Burton.

Other artists present also include Sylvia Ken, Kunmanara (Militjari) Pumani, Rhoda Tjitayi, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Kaylene Whiskey andYaritji TingilaYoung.

Formoreinformationvisitbunjilplace.com. au/events/kungka-kunpu-strong-women

Iwantja Young Women’s Film Project featuring Kaylene Whiskey, Leena Baker, Leonie Cullinan, Betty Muffler, 2019.

Picture: IWANTJA ARTS

WHAT’S ON

Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre

If you are over 55 years old, newly retired, or new to the Casey area and looking for something to do, come and join us.

Narre Warren Seniors is a friendly Club and we can offer you many activities. Our main Club day is on Wednesdays from 9.30am to 3pm. On the first Wednesday of the month we enjoy socialising with our members and, on the next three (3) Wednesdays we have live entertainment wherein you can do some line-dancing if you wish and enjoy an afternoon cup of tea.

There are also weekly activities on other days of the week, which include the Garden Group Club, Indoor Carpet Bowls, Line Dancing, Table Tennis, friendly Card games, and a Gentle Exercise class. We are located at 192-196 Centre Road near the Narre Warren Station.

· Phone us at 9704 0015 or 0426 736 467 or email us at: narrewarrenseniors@gmail.com for more information

Mental Health Peer Support Program Cranbourne Group - Free

The program is based on a 12-step program of personal growth, mutual help, and support. Participants share challenges and solutions in a supportive and structured peer-to-peer format within a confidential, caring, and sharing community.

· The meetings are weekly and go for about two hours. 10.30am to 12.30pm Thursday, excluding school holidays, 7/9 Selandra Boulevard (Balla Balla Community Centre), Clyde North. For any enquires contact Grow Victoria on 9528 2977/1800 558 268.

Balla Balla Community Centre

Located in Clyde North, the centre has vacancies in the following classes: Introduction to Creative Writing, Conversational English, Yoga, Zumba, Playgroup, Balla Balla Bubs (0-12 months). Morning Melodies is back! Share a morning of music, enjoy a cuppa, or scones with jam and cream, and make new friends along the way.

· Enrolments can be made online at ballaballa. com.au/programs or by phoning 5990 0900.

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club

Are you newly retired or new to the area or just wanting to enjoy your freedom or expand

Craft Classes

Do you enjoy craft making?

Join Berwick Activities Group’s Elizabeth to discover the world of papercraft and have a chat with like minded people.

You will be introduced to a range of papercraft techniques through a new project each week.

your social life?

Casey Cardinia Life Activities Club can offer you stimulating activities such as weekly social/chat activities with low-key in line dancing if you want to tap your feet and enjoy an afternoon tea. Day, short and long trips away via coach and flights, a weekly morning coffee club, monthly Saturday country pub lunches, monthly evening dineouts, weekly table tennis club, walking groups, seasonal daytime musical theatre outings, and more.

· Come along and get to know us by visiting us on a Thursday at 2pm at Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House or join us on a Wednesday at 10am for a Coffee at Little Sparrow Fountain Gate. For more information, contact enquiry officer Gloria on 0468 363 616.

Cranbourne U3A

Come along to Cranbourne U3A meet new friends and have fun doing interesting classes. We are

Casual attendance is welcome.

Timbarra Community Centre 20-26 Parkhill Drive, Timbarra Way, Berwick $5 per class, all materials supplied. Contact admin@berwicknc.com.au or phone 9704 1863.

· Tuesdays from 10am to noon.

a not-for-profit group for over 50 retired, or semiretired people. Our latest class will be Resin Craft, where we will be creating small items such as earrings, necklace pendants, coasters, and more. Great for small gifts for your friends. Come along and give it a try. Class materials will be provided for the first 4 weeks to give you an opportunity to try out a large variety of casts and molds. We have lots of samples to give you inspiration. Our usual craft, music, chess, table tennis, and calligraphy classes are all open to new members. Come along and give it a try. Our rooms are in the Cranbourne Library Admin building, enter from the Casey Radio entrance, next door to L’Arte Cafe. We are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.

· Our website is - u3acranbourne.org.au. Check it out for more information or come along and talk to one of our friendly members who will show you around.

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre

Located in Cranbourne North, it has vacancies in the following classes, learn to speak, read, and write in English - all levels, Monday to Thursday; Early Childhood Education classes - four hours on a Friday, government-funded, great to do before enrolling in a Certificate class; Computer classes every Wednesday morning and afternoon and in Hazaragi Wednesday evenings; Crochet and chat every Wednesday morning with a crochet teacher for free.

· Enrol now for our funded three and four-yearold Kinder Program with sessions up to five days a week. 9.30am to 2.30pm every day with structured play.

Seated Movement Sessions (Chair Dancing)

Would you enjoy exercising from the comfort of your chair?

Join the Berwick Activities Group for some seated movement sessions including fun and uplifting songs and different styles and eras of music. An opportunity to get moving and enjoy the company of others.

Timbarra Community Centre, 20-26 Parkhill Drive, Timbarra Way, Berwick. $8 per session. Contact admin@berwicknc.com.au or phone 9704 1863.

· Wednesdays from 10.45am to 11.30am.

Berwick Springs VIEW Club

Affiliated with The Smith Family, the Berwick Springs VIEW Club is a not for profit organisation, with the aim to fundraise to support Learning for Life students.

The club currently supports seven students of varying ages with their education expenses and are about to take on an eighth student.

Throughout the year, the club has a couple of special fundraisers, as well as casual morning tea and lunch for interested ladies. The club is always looking for new members in all age groups. For more information, contact Shirley on 0419 878 481 or email berwicksprings.viewclub@ gmail.com

· The club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Berwick Springs Hotel function room from 11.30am, where members enjoy a lunch and then host a guest speaker.

Olympian visit a

longs’ is fitting and one embraced by both staff and students at St. Peter’s College.

St. Peter’s College educates students from over 60 cultural backgrounds. College principal, Chris Black states, “it is wonderful to celebrate Harmony Day in a school such as ours, which is enriched with such a multi-cultural community, where we get to learn from each other and to celebrate the fact that from many nations we become one”.

Harmony Day was originally an Australian celebration but is now marked as a day of celebration world-wide.

Its aim is to celebrate unity and diversity. The theme of Harmony Day, ‘everyone be-

Cultural Dances and foods from many nations are just part of the colour and the excitement of the day.

This year St. Peter’s College welcomed Australian athlete and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Peter Bol, who later this year will be representing Australia at the Paris Olympic Games.

Born in Sudan, Peter migrated to Australia at a young age, a once strange place that he now calls home.

He moved to Toowoomba with his family in 2004, then Perth, where he took up a basketball scholarship.

It was at this time that his high school

was looking for 400M and 800M runners for their athletics team, it was to be a turning point in his life, and the rest as they say is history.

Peter was rewarded for his hard work with his first Olympic team selection in 2016, the Rio Olympics.

Peter’s journey is much more than a sporting story, it is a story of adjustment to a new country, a search for belonging, a search for home.

A search which continues.

In his own words Peter states:

“I proudly represent Australia across the world, as I still look within myself, a Sudanese born male, to find my own unique meaning of ‘home’”.

Peter Bol has come a long way and is at a point in his journey where he can reflect and say: “Who would have thought! I started running at 17 – much later than most professional athletes!

“Yet here I am, training, studying, and dreaming. Training to compete at the global stage.

“Studying for academic aspirations. Dreaming that one day all this struggle will mean something.”

Peter will be competing in the 800M at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he is tipped to go deep in the competition.

St. Peter’s College was privileged to welcome Peter to Harmony Day celebrations.

St. Peter’s College celebrates Harmony Day,a day set aside to celebrate its diverse cultural community. St. Peter’s College educates students from over 60 cultural backgrounds.

Seagulls show no mercy

By David Nagel

A dominant 2023/24 CCCA Premier Division campaign only required rubber-stamping and Tooradin (2/222) has firmly put the imperial seal on a premiership-winning season with an eight-wicket victory over Pakenham (221).

Tooradin champion Cal O’Hare (101 not out) is being celebrated as the hero for the Gulls, in a Lex Duff Medal-winning performance that sealed the club’s third premiership in 11 seasons; two in the last three years.

The star opening bat hit a six off the last ball of the 68th over on Sunday - in front of an adoring home crowd - to bring up his century and tie the scores, before skipper Mick Sweeney (59 not out) sealed his first-ever premiership with a single to mid-on with the first ball of the 69th.

It was the perfect finish to a near perfect season for the Gulls, who finished with 14 wins, one loss and a draw.

The Seagulls’ successful chase came after Pakenham skipper Dale Tormey (117) played a magnificent day-one innings to pilot his Lions to a competitive score.

Tormey strode to the crease for the fourth ball of the match after Seagulls’ wrecking-ball Brad Butler (5/70) removed Lions’ opener Jack Anning for a third-ball duck.

The combination of Butler and slips-fielder O’Hare then struck again, removing the dangerous Chris Smith (14) in the 15th over to leave the Lions in trouble at 2/43.

Tormey and Rob Elston (20) then settled in for the fight as slow bowlers Josh Lownds (29.4-11-56-2) and Peter Sweeney (22-8-62-1) bowled beautifully to a very well-set field.

Lownds and Sweeney bowled 40 overs in tandem: taking a wicket each along the way, conceding just 89 runs in a mid-innings bowling partnership.

They conceded just seven runs between overs 30 and 40; and a further 10 runs from overs 40 to 50.

At one stage the Lions faced 26 overs for a modest return of 1/23, during which Elston played across the line and was cleaned bowled by Sweeney.

The battle between Tormey and Sweeney was absorbing, with the left-handers showcasing impeccable skill with both bat and ball in hand.

Tormey hit eight fours and four sixes in his highest score for the season, made from 226 balls.

“We didn’t want to throw our wickets away because if they’re bowling well to blokes that are set, it’s going to be even more difficult for blokes coming in if we go out,” Tormey said post-match.

“That would create even more pressure, so we just had to absorb some very good bowling from two very good bowlers.

“The mindset was to get through, to take our opportunities when they came but importantly keep our wickets.”

Captain Mick Sweeney kept a fielder forward of square-leg, but had no protection behind square as he tried to entice the well-set

Tormey into error.

“Dale wanted to hit Pete down the ground, he showed that intent, so we wanted to get him thinking about hitting square,” Sweeney explained.

“The only way to do that was to risk not having fielders behind square.

“It nearly worked, we went up for the LBW appeal, but he could have easily have hit Pete out of the attack and it goes the other way.

“I think all three of us really enjoyed that battle.”

The Lions were still well held from overs to 50 to 60, taking just 2/23 from that block of 10, before things ramped up from there.

Tormey brought up his century with a late cut off Lownds, in the 64th over, as the Lions piled on 2/52 in the second-last block of 10.

Butler was brought back on after Tormey hit two sixes in three balls off Sweeney, and soon removed Stuart Johnson (2) and Tormey - both caught behind - before clean-bowling Sean Gramc (4) with just five overs left in the innings.

Jason Williams (36) once again played an important knock for the Lions; backing up his half-century against Kooweerup last week with another impressive display; guiding the lower order to safety against the quality bowling of Butler and Lownds.

Lownds took the ball from Russell Lehman (10-1-26-0) for the 22nd over of the match and bowled unchanged in a marathon spell that included only a handful of loose deliveries.

The Seagulls gave nothing away in the field, with O’Hare superb with three catches, Ben Parrott two behind the stumps, while two runouts in the last over of the innings proved the hosts were fully switched on for the full 80 overs of the innings.

Perfect weather greeted players and supporters on Sunday; with the temperature a comfortable 21 degrees as the last day of the season began.

It was a day that would be all Tooradin.

The Seagulls lost opener Josh Lownds (12) with the score on 23, before O’Hare and Peter Sweeney (40) put on an even 100-run stand for the second wicket.

The top-order was patient, with 14 runs coming from the first block of 10; and 23 from the second, before 28 runs from the third block of 10 had the Gulls in prime position at 1/65 off 30.

The pair moved steadily to 1/91 off 40, with the 100 coming up in the 45th as the left-handed Sweeney worked through mid-wicket for one.

O’Hare then brought up his half-century with one of the shots of the match; a gloriously

executed drive that found the middle of the bat and raced to the cover boundary for four.

With 30 overs remaining in the season, Tooradin required an even 100 runs; Pakenham nine wickets.

A glimmer of hope came for Pakenham in the very next over, when Pete Sweeney guided aWilliams delivery to the safe hands ofTormey in the gully.

Mick Sweeney then strode to the crease with intent, pulling his second ball from offspinner Williams to the fence; signalling clear and ever-present confidence.

The remaining 96 runs came from just 18 overs, with Sweeney hitting four boundaries and a six in his run-a-ball half-century.

O’Hare tied the scores with the most memorable shot of his long and decorated career, before Sweeney raised his arms in triumph after racing through for a single from the next ball.

The best team all season had won; O’Hare claimed the Lex Duff Medal; joining teammates Tom Hussey and Dylan Sutton as threetime premiership heroes.

And Mick Sweeney hit the winning run to claim the first premiership of a brilliant individual career.

As far as storylines go…it doesn’t get any better than that!

The sweet driving of Cal O’Hare was a key feature of his magnificent century on Sunday. 396637

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

A late flurry from Jason Williams comes to an end; caught short of his ground by Tooradin keeper Ben Parrott. 396630

Brad Butler, centre, made it back-to-back five-wicket hauls in the CCCA Premier Division grand final. 396630

Tooradin captain Mick Sweeney came out firing on Sunday to lead his Seagulls to glory. 396637

CASEY CARDINIA CRICKET ASSOCIATION PREMIER DIVISION - GRAND FINAL REVIEW

Sweeney’s dream day out

By David Nagel

Finally…the wait is over!

There’s one obvious question to ask; saddling up beside Tooradin premiership captain Mick Sweeney on Sunday; who first takes a deep breath, then closes his eyes and smiles.

It’s the ultimate look of contentment and satisfaction.

“100-percent pure relief,” was his clear and emphatic reply to how he was feeling right now.

“You start the game as a 10-year-old and you just think that it’s going to happen, you just think you’ll play the game long enough and something will come along.

“Pete (Mick’s brother) has won a heap of flags and medals in juniors and seniors, but I think I’m up to double-digits when it comes to losing.”

Sweeney, who will celebrate his 38th birthday in three weeks’ time with a glistening new medal around his neck, and has suffered the sickening taste of grand final defeat on more than one occasion.

A long-time player for Dandenong in Vic Premier Cricket, he was part of a losing 1st XI team in 2012; and two years later suffered the same fate in the twos.

And coaching Cranbourne last season; he succumbed to Mark Cooper and his Beaconsfield Tigers in DDCA Turf 2.

To top things off, Sweeney was dropped for Dandenong’s 2011 1st XI win over Frankston; making way for Australian star James Pattinson.

You get handed nothing in sport; but Sweeney’s two-decade long search for premiership success is now over.

“The message was always ‘we’re a deep team, so we’re going to do it together, it’s not about individual performance’ and all the players bought into that,” Sweeney explained.

“We mixed up the middle order a lot, to make sure players were in form coming into this game; but what was going to set us apart was partnerships and depth, not massive individual years.

“Sure, along the way, Cal (O’Hare), Josh (Lownds) and Brad Butler have had massive years, but it’s been built around a real team focus.

“Dylan Sutton came back from holidays and played great, Huss (Tom Hussey) has

had a good year, and Russ’s (Lehman) last five games have been outstanding.

“That was always going to be what got us across the line…outstanding depth.”

While century-maker and club-legend Cal O’Hare deservedly earned the plaudits, Sweeney’s decisive and impactful 59 not out – made from just 62 balls - ended the game in a hurry.

Sweeney, who whacked his second ball to the boundary, was simply living up to the mantra that he had instilled in the club in the lead up.

“That shot was probably due to a few nerves, but I was talking to Josh (Lownds) on the sideline and knew that Boof (Jason Williams) was probably going to bowl unchanged from that end,” he explained.

“I told the whole club this week that you need to be brave enough to win the game when the opportunity presents, and not take a back seat; you’ve got to take it and grab it with

both hands.

“I just thought if I could get a couple back, by hitting him, that we might be able to take full control and make it a little easier.

“I backed myself in and it came off; I delivered the message…so I had to do it as well.”

Sweeney said he noticed immediately the talent that he had his disposal; it just required some molding and slight kneading to shape it perfectly.

“This club is incredibly talented, but the thinking side of cricket is huge,” he said.

“Even the elite cricketers will tell you that this game is played 90-percent above the shoulders.

“To get these boys thinking about the game, thinking about partnerships and how the game evolves; they’ve listened and really taken that up and made it their own.

“It was great to see that evolve throughout

the year and really make a difference.”

Sweeny was full of praise for his defeated opponent Pakenham.

“I’ve had sleepless nights all week, trying to work out what to do with Chris Smith and Dale Tormey; what to do with Boof, they’re great players and Pakenham’s an incredible team,” he said.

“It was a really good battle, particularly between Pete (Sweeney) and Dale (Tormey), who couldn’t get the single but had the absolute class to bomb Pete when needed.

“There were a couple of times when we discussed bowling somebody else if Dale was on strike, but Pete was confident in his ability and I had trust in him.

“To win a grand final against a high-quality team like Pakenham; and to finally win one with Pete…it makes it all even more special.”

Tormey tons up but lack of support leaves Lions to lament

By David Nagel

Pakenham captain DaleTormey could simply do more for a team that was overwhelmed by an opponent with clearly superior depth.

That, in a nutshell, sums up the 2023/24 Casey Cardinia Premier Division grand final between Tooradin and Pakenham.

As things stood on Saturday night, Tormey’s magnificent 117 - just the third grand final century in the last 25 years - was the individual highlight of a grueling day at the office that saw the Lions nudge their way to a ‘just-competitive’ 221.

Tormey entered the fray on the fourth ball of the match, with he and Chris Smith holding the hopes of Pakenham in their hands.

And the stats show why.

Smith (1022 at 92.91) and Tormey (795 at 56.79) ended the season with a combined 1817 runs at 72.68, while their nine teammates on the weekend finished with 1337 at 19.66.

When Smith fell for 14, brilliantly caught by man-of-the-match Cal O’Hare off the bowling of Brad Butler; the onus fell squarely on the shoulders of Tormey.

Amid bursts of brilliance the left-hander played a defiant knock; the stats above clearly in mind as he and Rob Elston (20 off 117 balls) held the dangerous Seagulls at bay.

Tormey hit eight boundaries and four towering sixes in his 226-ball knock, that at least gave his side a chance.

The Seagulls would pass the target easily, winning by eight wickets after Cal O’Hare’s (101 not out) memorable century, and a free-

flowing knock from Tormey’s counterpart Mick Sweeney (59 not out off 62) that sealed the deal for the Gulls.

Sweeney played with freedom; knowing class acts such as Russell Lehman, Tom Hussey, Dylan Sutton, Tyler Evans, Butler, Ben Mantel and Ben Parrott were still to come.

It was a luxury not afforded Tormey, who was proud of his team for making it to the final weekend of the season.

“It’s obviously disappointing to not win it, but we gave it our all and someone has to lose on a day like this,” Tormey said.

“It sucks that it’s us, but it was a great effort from the boys to get here.

“I’m super-proud of the effort the boys have put in; I couldn’t be prouder, but full credit to Tooradin, they’ve been the best

team all year and they’ve shown that over the last two days.”

Recovering from 0-0 to 1-43, Tormey thought his Lions were back in the premiership hunt.

“My mindset doesn’t change whether I walk in fourth ball, or walk out in the 50th over,” he said.

“I play my game, it stacks up, well I think it does anyway, in most situations, so there was no panic or anything like that.

“I love batting with Chris (Smith), I love watching him bat, he’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with and that includes at a higher standard.

“It was disappointing when he went out, because I thought we were getting on top and we weren’t far away from posting a pretty big score.

“My mindset didn’t change, I wanted to score, but also wanted to bat time, because the longer I bat the more runs I score; which benefits the team.

“Boof (Jason Williams) batted well towards the end, but we just couldn’t get that second score through the middle order.

“To get that extra 50 or 60 runs that we needed, we needed a team effort; and the Tooradin boys showed us how to do that today.

“They fielded really well, they hunted well…full credit to them; they were too good.”

The Lions had one hint of a chance on day two, when Tooradin number-three Peter Sweeney (40) gave a low-percentage chance off the first ball of his innings.

“Cal and Pete batted really well, but if Pete’s first ball sticks; a half chance to Boof (Jason Williams) at mid-on, then all of a sudden they’re two for 20 odd and it’s a completely different ball game,” Tormey said.

“But those two batted really well; they made a 100-run partnership and took the game away from us.

“They were a class above in all three facets of the game, they bat very deep and have a good understanding of what they need to do with the ball.

“They still had quality bowlers that didn’t bowl and quality bats that weren’t required to bat; they’re a ridiculously good team and all credit to them.

“They were the best team this season and thoroughly deserve their success.”

Pakenham skipper Dale Tormey made a magnificent 117 to keep the Lions in the hunt in the Premier Division grand final against Tooradin. 396630 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Tooradin captain Mick Sweeney, right, lived out a lifelong dream on Sunday by sharing a senior premiership with his brother Pete. 397236

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Heartbreak for Swannies

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Casey-South Melbourne has gone down in the Vic Premier Cricket grand final in heartbreaking circumstances, losing via reverse outright to a rampant Carlton outfit.

The Blues needed 251 runs in the last 36 overs of day three to claim the premiership and did it with five overs in hand as their experience came to the fore.

Carlton skipper and former Big Bash league player Evan Gulbis and Melbourne Renegades-contracted Mackenzie Harvey opened the batting with intent, scoring 88 runs off the first nine overs of the chase.

Young Casey lefty Harry Hoekstra broke through with the first ball of the 10th over, claiming Harvey for the second time in the match.

But, by that point, the run-rate required was at six runs per over, which allowed new batter Jai Lemire to put it into the deep pockets ofWindy Hill and run hard, in between his own boundary scoring.

Skipper Luke Shelton claimed Evan Gulbis for 62 off 37 with the first ball of his second innings spell, but it did little to disturb the Carlton psyche.

The batting depth, poise and class of a perennial contender was on show, with each of the top five batters passing 35, and all scoring at a strike rate of more than 100.

It was a heartbreaking turnaround for Casey-South Melbourne, which at tea on day three appeared all but home.

State contracted opener Ash Chandrainsghe followed up a first inning half-century with a century, absorbing 263 deliveries and was a rock.

In a situation tailor-made for his oldschool style of cricket, Chandrasinghe offered no chances and showed no signs of letting up despite the Blues trying several plans to dismiss him.

After Yash Pednekar, Ruwantha Kellapotha

and Chris Benedek, in particular, had played a key part in resisting the Blues’ bowlers and hold on after securing first innings points, number 10 Nathan Lambden was the batter who faced the second most balls.

In an innings which needed to prioritise survival as they looked to bat 136 overs, he faced 85 balls stymying the momentum Carlton built up by taking 3/9 which was a significant moment in the game.

But he was undone with the first ball after tea, with Harry Hoekstra dismissed the following ball which gave Carlton the opportunity to chase.

That crushing turn of events for Will Carr’s men followed an outstanding display of bowl-

Cranbourne and Pakenham-trained

will compete for the $100,000 Ladbrokes Southside Challenge on Good Friday night at Cranbourne; raising funds for the Good Friday Appeal. 375565

Picture: ROB CAREW

Special night for Southside

The inaugural $100,000 Ladbrokes Southside Challenge will highlight Victoria’s first Good Friday Night meeting on Friday 29 March, with the Good Friday Appeal set to be the big winner.

An initiative of Southside Racing, the Ladbrokes Southside Challenge is a maiden event to be run over 1300m, with the field made up of six runners trained at Cranbourne, and six runners trained at Pakenham.

There will be a maximum of one horse per trainer.

Leading Cranbourne trainer Mick Price will captain the ‘home’ team, while Pakenham based Peter Moody will lead the ‘away’ team.

The race will have a strong charity element – one of several fundraising initiatives to be run through the night – with all proceeds donated to the Good Friday Appeal.

“We’re delighted to launch this exciting initiative at our first Good Friday Night meeting,” said Southside Racing CEO Neil Bainbridge.

“When Southside Racing made its submission to race on Good Friday night, we had a very clear vision that the timeslot

presented a fantastic opportunity to create a community event that would not only engage people in our sport, but also support fundraising efforts for the Good Friday Appeal.

“The Ladbrokes Southside Challenge will showcase the trainers that have invested their training operations and trust in Southside, while supporting a very worthy cause.”

Other fundraising activities on the night include the auction of several unique pieces of racing memorabilia and experiences, race day raffles, as well as $5 from every general admission ticket being donated to the Appeal.

Southside Racing is Australia’s newest racing club and was formed following the merger of the Cranbourne Turf Club and Pakenham Racing Club.

Southside Racing is home to the state’s leading training facilities, producing approximately one third of all staters in Victoria.

It conducts over 60 race meetings and approximately 500 races each season while generating over $300m annually into the local economy.

ing which enabled them to defend 212 against a typically high-scoring team.

After Carlton started their pursuit positively, Hoekstra got the important breakthrough of Harvey to instil belief, with Carlton losing 10/97 after a 74-run opening stand.

The underdogs took nine wickets in the second session of day two, led by Ruwantha Kellapotha who spun a web around Carlton’s batters, taking 5/67 off 16.

Lambden was tireless with the ball in support of Kellapotha as that effort opened up a 41-run first innings lead.

Chandrasinghe, who was awarded the John Scholes Medal, was also the standout of the first innings.

The 22-year-old looked a class above as he made 53 off 106.

His dismissal, a misjudged pull shot which found a sweeper in the deep was the only misstep Chandrainsghe made all game, as he played with elegance and also caught well.

Kellapotha also played a key role with the bat, stabilising for the Swans after Yash Pednekar was dismissed in the first over.

The only two players in the lineup with state experience combined for 95 runs, with Kellapotha scoring 48 of those before snicking off to gully.

Chris Benedek was also a major contributor, willing to defend and absorb pressure in an innings of 52 off 158.

Usually a player who has attacking flair, Benedek was promoted to the First XI midway through the season after a series of significant scores in the seconds and played his most substantial hand in the final.

The right-hander paired his half-century with a second-innings knock of 25 off 76 and looked immovable until running himself out looking to come back for a third run that wasn’t on.

Demons and Hawks come together for a great cause

Excitement is in the air as theVictorian Netball League gears up for a thrilling encounter at Casey Stadium onWednesday 3 April.

The Casey Demons will host the Hawks Netball Club in what promises to be an exhilarating Championship match.

Netball fans can expect a clash of titans as some of the most talented netballers take to the court, showcasing their skills and prowess.

Among the stars set to grace the court are Sharni Lambden, Sacha McDonald, Emma Ryde, and Tayla Honey of the Demons, all of whom bring invaluable Super Netball experience.

Adding to the spectacle is the goaling sensation Kahlia Stanton from Hawks Netball, whose stints with the Melbourne Vixens and West Coast Fever have garnered her widespread acclaim.

The anticipation doesn’t end with the Championship match; spectators can also look forward to an engaging 23 and Under match, featuring a plethora of young talents with a strong local flavour.

For the 2024 Demons debutants, it will mark their first encounter with the passionate

Casey crowd, known for its unwavering support and electrifying energy.

Casey Stadium will not only witness thrilling netball action but also serve as a platform for a noble cause.

The Demons are proud to raise awareness for‘Share the Dignity,’ a charity they have been supporting fervently for the past year.

The community has rallied together, generously collecting period products to combat period poverty.

Athletes will be donning the distinctive ‘Bloody Period’ socks in support, and a collection bin will be available for new period product donations during the round five clash with Hawks.

Tickets for this unmissable event are available via Try Booking.

Don’t miss your chance to witness top-tier netball talent, support a worthy cause, and be part of the electrifying atmosphere at Casey Stadium.

Let’s come together to cheer on our Demons and make a meaningful impact in our community.

A blockbuster night is assured when the Casey Demons and Hawks Netball come together for a huge battle and a great cause at Casey Stadium on Wednesday 3 April.

horses from Southside Racing

Ruwantha Kellapotha played a key hand with bat and ball. 395151 Pictures: ROB CAREW

Ash Chandrasinghe’s excellence came to the fore.

“We followed the kids down the Surf Coast after our friends told us about Armstrong Green. To our surprise, over a quarter of the community in our beautiful new village also came from the Eastern suburbs. So join us in 2024.”